Cable-track road and tightener for same



(No Model.)

0. CARR.

CABLE TRACK ROAD AND TIGHTENER FOR SAME I30. 374,866. r Patented D60.1.3, 1887.

3 Fig.1 i i ifik UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

CHARLES CARE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CABLE-TRACK ROAD AND TIGHTENER FOR SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,866, dated December13, 1887,

Application filed May 21, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARR, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tracks for Suspension or Cable Track Roads-via, acabletightener or device for adjusting and holding the required tensionof the cable-of which the following is a full and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference thereon, which make a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating thedevice. Fig. 2 is a plan of the main part. The screws and cap areomitted to expose to view the other parts. Fig. 3 is a similar plan soconstructed as to avoida second crook or bend in the cable ends. Fig. 4is a sectional elevation, plane of section at A, Fig. 1, looking to theright. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, plane of section cuttingtransversely at the central point, looking to the right. Fig. 6 is asimilar sectional view of the two cable ends and a thin steel platebetween them. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the device viewed transverselyto the view in Fig. 1, and showing the support, consisting ofa post andbraeket,upon which the deviceis mounted, the cable forming the trackbeing shown in section. Fig. 8 is an under view of the cap which coversthe parts of the cable ends which pass each other. I

Like letters refer to corresponding all the figures.

B B are the cable ends, terminating at O, of two sections or parts of aroad-track composed of wire or other cable, and may likewise representflexible rods or wire, in case such are used. These cable ends may occurat any desirable length of intervals. \Vherever they do occur it isproposed to connect them by means of my invention, the cable-tightener,which not only forms a convenient connection and resting-place for thecable, but also affords the efficient means for taking up the slack ofthe cable and of giving it the requisite tension.

D is an ordinary post or other support, and E is the usual bracket forsupporting the cable or the shoe or cable-holder, and F is ajointbar, apart of my device. The part E, in case of an electric road, may beinsulated upon the parts in also beneath an opening within which thecable end may pass at the opposite end of the bar. This will beunderstood on reference to Fig. 1. The cable end is also passed througha tubular screw, and is firmly secured by any convenient method to itsouter end-as, for instance, I have shown the wire ends opened and spreadin return order around the head end of the screw, where they are madefast by the band of Wire wound upon them and marked G. This tubularscrew H is provided with a nut, H. The screw H is also provided with ahead, H by means of which it may be kept from turning when the nut H isrotated.

The arrangement of the cable ends lying in the grooves or resting-placeson joint-bar F, and passing through the opening in the opposite end ofthe bar,with the nut-head and wirefastening, will all be understood byreference to the drawings.

It will be observed that the cable ends pass each other at the middle ofthe joint-bar and below the line of the track. To cover the depressionand deviation of the track so caused and render the track continuous andapproximately uniform, I provide the cap I. (Shown inverted in Fig. 8and in proper position in Figs. 1 and 5.) This cap saddles over thecable-ends crossing, and is secured in any suitable manner-as, forinstance, by the bolt 1 passing under and close to the cables.

When it is required to occupy as little thickness of track as possibletransversely measured, I place the resting-place for the cable ends andthe opening through which they pass in one right line, as illustrated inFig. 2. This of course causes the divergence of the cable throughreversed curves, and causes more or less friction of one cable againstthe other. I

therefore, to prevent chafing and give easy movement to the cable end intightening, interpose between the two cables the thin sheet J, of steel,as illustrated in Figs. 2and 6. When a little more breadth taken up bythe track is not objectionable, the openings in the end of j oint-bar Fmay be made onthe line of the first divergence of the cable, asillustrated in Fig. 3.

When it is required to take up the slack of the cable, it is onlynecessary to turn the nuts H,which, bearing against the ends ofjoint-bar F, draw the cable ends each in the direction opposite to theother.

The parts may be made of any suitable material, preferably of steel, andmost easily of steel castings.

The joint-bar or cable-rest may, if preferred, be rigidly secured to thebracket or other support. I have shown it pivoted or journaled so as tobe free to oscillate as the car-w heels approach and leave it.

The cables may, if preferred be insulated upon the joint-bar F, in whichcase the steel bridge-cap I becomes the sufficient electrical connectionbetween the two cable ends.

I claim- 1. In combination with cable-wire or flexible-rod sectionsforming a road-track, a jointbar constructed with cable-bearings orrestingplaces and screw-openings, sleeve-screws and nuts, and abridge-cap, substantially as described.

2. In combination with cable-wire or flexi ble-rod sections, atightening device as constructedviz., having two sleeve-screws inclosingand secured to the said sections and arranged in a bearingbar common toboth, with nuts and abridge or cap, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the sections of a cable-wire or flexible-rodroad-track, the two sleeve-screws and nuts and cable-holder bar,substantially as described.

4. The bridge-cap I, in combination with the two cable ends and thejoint bar for electrical transmission, substantially as described.

CHARLES CARR.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. PAR-KER, D. N. B. COFFIN.

